Game board



Dea 16, l 924.

B. A. WITHEY GAME BOARD Filed May 28, 1923 I' II Patented Dec., 16, i924.

STATES BERT A. W'ITHEY, OF CHICAGO, LLNOIS.

GAME BOARD.

Application filed May 2S, 1923. Serial No. 641,879.

To all wlw/n it may concern.'

Be it known that l, BERT A. /Vrri-rnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of @ook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Game Boards, of which the following is a speciiication.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in game boards of the type embodying a plurality of cells or compartments normally covered by a puncturable closure in the form of a sheet of paper or the like having delineated thereon predetermined areas to direct the operator in the use of the board so that the implement, by means of which the closure is punctured or perforated, will be directed into the corresponding cells or compartments of the board.

Heretofore with game boards of this character the body of the board has usually been constructed of fibrous material, the cells or compartments therein being arranged transverse to the grain of the material, with the result that the boards often warp or become distorted, and frequently broken.

lilith the boards as heretofore constructed, if it attempted. to remove 'the sheets contituting the closures for the cells or coinpartments, by immersing the board in liquid and allowing it to remain immersed long enough to soak oil' the sheets, the board will become warped, with the result that the board cannot be used again. Furthermore, with the prior devices the apertures or openings which constitute the cells cannot be arranged very closel together as the board would then be too fragile and would break, with the result that enough stock must be left between adjacent apertures to prevent the board from breaking. This necessitates a comparatively large board if one with any considerable number of apertures is desired.

lt is one of the objects of the invention to improve the construction of a board of this character' and to form the same from a number of independent strips or members, of any suitable material, but preferably niet-al, arranged edgewise and interlocled to form closely arranged cells with a small amount of material therebetween, with the result that a greater number of cells may be provided in a board of a given area than has heretofore been possible and at the same time the board will be rigid, strong' and durable in construction. Furthermore with this improved construction the board may be immersed in liquid and allowed to remain so as to soalr oli the sheets which originally constituted the closure for the cells, without any danger of the board warping or distorting or beingl injured in any way, thus permitting the board to be prepared so that will be adapted for re-use by applying new sheets or covers for the cells.

A further object is to provide an improved, removable frame for encompassing and protecting the edges of the board and 'the ends of the strips of material and from which frame the board is constructed.

A further object is to provide an improved board of this character which will be simple, cheap, light and compact in coni struction, and eiiective and efiicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying' drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of a board of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, partly broken away and with a portion of the cell covers turned baclr to expose some of the cells.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the body of the board.

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation, showing one end of the board and a card holder detached from the board.

Figure i is an enlarged detail sectional view talren on line dgl, Figure l.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of two of the strips or partitions separated and showingl the manner in which they are as sembled and held together.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of two of the strips or partitions assembled.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view partly in elevation and partly in section of one corner of the board showing the frame applied to the board.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates a series of strips which may be of any suitable material but preferably of metal. These strips are of any desired height and length according to the size board Which it is desii'ed to construct and each of the strips is of a comparatively small thickness. The lower edge of each of these strips is provided with a seiies of kerfs or recesses 11 opening through the lower edge thereof and which preferably extend for a` distance substantialiv one-half the height of the strip. The numeral 12 designates a similar strip which is provided with a series of kerfs or recesses 13 opening through the upper edge thereof and the kerfs 11 and 13 of the respective strips 10 and 12 are adapted to receive portions of the other strips.

The strips are assembled so that all of the strips 10 extend parallel with respect to each other and in one direction of the board while the strips: or members 12 also extend parallel with respect to each other and in anotherdirection of the board transverse to the strips or members 10, all of the strips and members 10 interlocking to form a plurality of closely arranged cells 14.

Obviously the cells may be ofany desired area according tothe arrangement of the kerfs or recesses 11 Iand 13, and when these strips or members 10 and 12 are asseunbled in the manner as shown more clearly in Figure 6, they will interlock With eachother and will be frictionaliy held against separation thereby producing a very rigid body having the cells 14 arranged in close proximity to each other, thel distance between the cells being determined by the Width of ythe strips or members 10 and 12.

In order to protect the projecting ends of the strips or members 10 and 12 'at the periphery of the board, a suitable removable frame may be provided and which latter preferably includes frame members 15 of channel formation and of a size to lit snugly over the respective sidesof the board. lThese frame members 15 may be removably held together in any suitable manner such as by means of brackets 16 to which the adjacent ends of the frame members are secured preferably by means of faste-ning screws 17. In 4order yto permit the frame members 15 to stand close to the periphery of the board and so that the bracket members 16 will not hold the frame members spaced from the edges of the board, the corners of the board, at each of which is located one of lthe brackets 16, is preferably cut away as at 16 and this cut away portion 18 is preferably formed by cutting off the projecting ends of the respective. strips 10 and 12, as shown. more clearly in Figures 1 and 7. Vi7ith this construction it will be noted that the brackets 16 Will be seated Within the portions 18 of the body of the board, the outer faces of the arms of the brackets standing substantially flush with the extremities of the respective strips or members 10 and 12.

The side members 19 may be constructed oli'l such a size asl to extend for lany desiredf distance over the surfaces of the ends of the strips or members 10 and 12.

r111e cells 1a are adapted to be covered by means of a suitable puncturable closure 20, preferably in the forni of a sheet of material such as paper or the like, which has arranged on the fac-e thereof lines or markings 21 to delineate "predetermined areas n and which areas arey of a configuration to con# forni to the sha-pe ofthe cells 1a so that when the material 20 is applied to the face of the board the areas 22 the-rein will coineide or register With the cells 14 so as to direct the operator in the use of the board.

That is to say the operator' ivill perforate with a suitable implement any one or more of t-he cells 22 indicated on the cover 2O andy by so doing the implement Will be directed into the. respective cells 14.

This closure or sheet 2O is held or secured in position in any suitable manner but preferably by means of adhesive material on the back thereof or' which may be arranged on the edges of the' strips o-r members 10-12, which forni the tops of the Walls or partitions forming the cells.

After the closure 2() has been perforated or punctured and mutilated to a certain eX- tent or to the point beyond which the closure Will not serve its function any further, the remaining portions of the material 20 may be removed from the face of the board by removing the board from the frame. This may be accomplished by removing a. suitable number of the fastening devices 17.' rEhe board may then be immersed in liquid andl allowed to remain there long enough until the remaining portions of the sheet 2O becomes soaked therefrom, after which the board may be removed and a new sheet 20 applied to the face thereof. The frame members 15 may then be rea-pplied and the board is again ready for use.

If desiredI a backing 23 may be secured to the board to form closures for the other ends of the cells and this backing 23 may be secured in position in the same manner as the sheet 2() and may, if desired, be of the same thickness or of a heavier quality than. the sheet 20.

1V ith this construction it Will be manifest that inasmuch as the strips or members 10 and 12 are interlocked With each other, there will be provided a board of a very rigid construction and in which the cells may be very closely arranged, the spacing of the cells being determined by the thickness of the material of which the strips or members 10 andv 12 are constructed... Furthermore the .strips oir members 1() and 12 are arranged the event that the board should be dropped the rigidity and stoutness of the material will prevent in diury to the board and likewise the board will `be held against warping.

lf desired a card or sign holder may be detachably connected with the board and to that end the holder may be formed of channel shaped members 24, preferably open at one end, the loi 'er end thereof being preferably enlarged as at 25 and provided with a bifurcation 26 opening through the extremity thereof. 'lhe portion f erably formed by cutting away a portion of the body of the channel to form a shoulder 27. The side members Yl5 of the frame are preferably provided with a lug or projection 28 extending beyond the outer face thereof and arranged adjacent the opening 29 in the frame member through which the fastening device 17 passes to engage with the bracket 16. To apply the card or sign holder7 the fastening device 17 may be loosened so that the bifurcation 26 in the head 25 of the member 241- may be passed over the shank of the fastening device for a distance to permit the lug or projection 28 on the frame member 15 to enter the bifurcation and to permit the shoulder 27 of the member 24,- to engage the top frame member 15 and restthereagainst. The fastening device 1'? is then tightened and the card or sign holder Will be held firmly in position. rlhe members 24: are secured in position so that the open portions of the channels will face each other to form a guide or receptacle into Which the ends of the card or sign 30 are adapted to pass. The sign or card 30 is of such a length that it will be frictionally held between the members 24.

l/Vhile the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is 1. A board the body of Which includes a series of rigid and spaced parallel strips, a second series of rigid and spaced parallel strips intersecting and closely fitting the first said strips and forming therewith a plurality of closely arranged open cells, and destructible covers extending over the cells and forming closures therefor.

2. A board the body of which includes a series of rigid and spaced parallel strips, a second series of rigid and spaced parallel strips intersecting and closely fitting the first said strips and forming therewith a plurality of closelj.7 arranged open cells, and destruetible covers extending over the cells and forming closures therefor; the said closures having indicated thereon separated il. n, board the body of which includes a series of rigid and spaced parallel strips, a second series of rigid spaced parallel strips closely intersecting and interlocking with vthe first said strips and forming therewith a plurality of closely arranged open cells, and a destructible cover extending over the cells and forming closures therefor.

5. A board including a plurality of intersectingI comparatively thin rigid strips arranged on edge intersectingl and closely fitting each other to form closely arranged open cells between the strips, a sheet of destructible material secured to the face of the board to extend across and form closures for the cells, and indications on the sheet for designating the location of the said cells.

6. A board including a plurality of intersecting comparatively thin rigid strips arranged on edge and all Within the same plane, said strips intersecting and closely litting each other to form closely arranged cells between the strips7 a sheet of opaque destructible material secured to each of the edges of the strips and extending across the cells to form closures therefor, and imlications on the exposed face of the said sheet for designating the locations of the cells.

7. A board including a plurality of intersecting comparatively thin rigid strips arranged on edge and all Within the same plane, said strips intersecting and close-ly litting each other to form closely arranged cells between the strips, a sheet of opaque destructible material secured to each of the edges of the strips and extending across the cells to form closures therefor, indications on the exposed face of the said. sheet for designating the locations of the cells, and a frame encompassing the edges of the board.

8. A board including a plurality of intersecting comparatively thin rigid strips arranged on edge and all within the same plane, said strips intersecting and closely fitting each other to form closely arranged cells between the strips, a sheet of opaque destructible material secured to the edges of the strips and extending across the cells to form closures therefor, indications on the exposed face of the said sheet for designating the locations of the cells and a frame encoi'npassingythe edges of the board and within which frame the board is removv ably held.

9. A board including a plurality of intersecting comparatively thin rigid strips arranged on edge and all within the same plane, said strips intersectingl and closely fitting each other to form closely arranged cells between the strips, a sheet of opaque destructible materialv secured to the edges of the strips and extending across the cells to form closures therefor, indications on the exposed face of the said sheet for designating the locations of the cells, and a frame encompassing the edges of the board, one of the frame members being removable to permit detaclnnent of the frame from the board.

l0. A board including a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and'having lerfs or recesses opening through the lower edge thereof, a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening through the upper ledges thereof, one set of said strips being arranged to intersect the other set by closely interlocking the kerfed portions to form closely arranged cells, and a puncturable sheet secured to the face of the board to extend across and form closures for the cells thus formed.

ll. A board including a plurality of Vrigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening through the lower edge thereof, a pluralityof rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or re? cesses opening through the upper edges thereof, one set of said strips being arranged to intersect the other set by closely interlocking the lrerfed portions to form closely arranged cells, a puncturable sheet secured to the face of the board to extend across and form closures for the cells thus formed, and a frame within which the board is removably held.

l2. A board including a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening through the lower edge thereof, a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having lrerfs or recesses opening through the upper edges thereof, one set of said strips being arranged to intersect the other set by closely interlocking the lrerfed portions to form closely arranged cells, a puncturable sneer secured to the face of the board to extend across and form closures for the cells thus formed, the extremities of the strips at the corner of the board being removed to form out away portions, a frame embodying separate members, bracket or connecting members at the corners of the frame, said yframe encompassing the periphery of the across and form closures .for the cells thus Y formed, and a card holder connected with the frame. Y l

lll. A board including a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening through the lower edgev thereof, a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or re'- cesses opening kthrough ythe upper edge thereof, vone set of said strips being arranged to intersect the other set by closely interlocking the kerfed portions to form closely arranged cells, a puncturable sheet secured to theI face of the board to extend across and form closures for the cells thus formed, and a card holder detachably connected with the frame and disposed within the plane of the faces of the board.

l5. AA board including a plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening through the lower edge thereof, a. plurality of rigid strips arranged on edge and having kerfs or recesses opening' through the upper edge thereof, one set of said strips being arranged to intcrsect the other set by closely interlockingk the curved portions to form closely arranged cells, a puncturable sheet secured to the face of the board to extend acrossand form closures for the cells thus formed,and

ay card holder detachably connected withy the frame and disposed within theplane of the faces of the board and also substantially within the plane of the side edges of the board.

16. A board, lugs projecting beyond vthe edges of the board, a card holder embodying channel shaped members, one extremity ofr each of the members being bifurcated, a shoulder adjacent said bifurcate-d ends, said bifurcations,receiving the respective lugs when the said shoulder abuts one edge of the board, and fastening devices passing through the said member and engaging the vsaid frame. y

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 21st day of May,A. D. 19523.l

` B. A. WITHEY. 

